Linda Stevens's blog

Okay, it's actually been kind of cold for a couple of days in Houston, Texas and many of us have been enjoying the chill before we start wearing our shorts again.  I think that people who have always lived in warm climates romanticize snow and wintry temperatures, with pictures of fireplaces, snowmen and hot chocolate dancing in our heads, instead of snow tires, shovels and bursting pipes.  While safely ensconced in our temperate zone, what's the harm in that?

We hear a great deal nowadays about buying local and eating local, but what about reading local?  I was preparing a presentation about hosting an author visit and it made me think about the talented and wide-ranging crop of local writers available in the romance genre. 

Librarianship is not a profession that is generally associated with many perks.  We do have one, though, that is very exciting for us.  We get to read some new books before they have reached their release date.  We are passionate about this.  We sometimes riot at conferences over the latest pre-release that no one else has.  (A slight exaggeration, but only slight.)  I've been lucky enough to get a good batch recently, without resorting to violence, and I want to share them with you.